Common water monitor

Description
Monitor lizards are the second largest types of lizard in the world, after the Komodo dragon. They have long, muscular bodies and long, muscular and laterally slim tails. They are brownish-grey, dark brown or olive coloured, with yellow or white patches arranged in circles which look like bands on its back. Their stomachs are off white with darker bands.

Ethology
These are solitary, aggressive animals. You will only see several of them eating together when there is a large carrion. They have a very acute sense of smell, and like snakes, they move their tongues in and out of their mouths. Females can lay up to 40 eggs per year.

Interesting facts
Aquatic monitor lizards can swim long distances and can swim underwater for up to 30 minutes, which has allowed them to colonise remote islands. Their main threat is hunting, because their hide, meat and fat is used in traditional medicine. The destruction of their habitats has caused a reduction in the population of monitor lizards in some zones.